California continues to challenge tariffs, claiming Trump lacks the authority to impose them

CALIFORNIA – California attorney general Rob Bonta filed an amicus brief, May 13, in Oregon v. Trump supporting the challenge to President Donald Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose emergency tariffs.

An amicus brief is a document submitted to a court by someone who is not directly involved in the case but has a strong interest in the matter.

In the May 13 brief filed in the Court of International Trade, Bonta argued that the Trump Administration’s interpretation of its authority under IEEPA is incorrect — the Act’s language does not provide the authority to impose tariffs.

‘IEEPA contains no mention of tariffs’

Bonta argues in the court filing that the IEEPA contains no mention of tariffs.

“Defendants cherry-pick two words out of one section of IEEPA, 50 U.S.C. § 1702(a)(1)(B), string them together with an ellipsis to read them as “regulate . . . importation,” and try to construe this ellipted phrase—read in isolation and shorn of its context—as authorizing tariffs,” says a statement in the filing.

He goes on to say that picking single words from a law and ignoring their context goes against basic rules for interpreting laws and Supreme Court guidance.

Bonta said the guidance requires looking at the words in their full context within the law.

Tariffs expected to reduce labor supply by 546,000 full-time jobs

As of May 13, the United States and China have agreed to a 90-day reduction in tariffs, significantly lowering trade barriers between the two nations.

U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have been reduced from approximately 145% to 30%, while Chinese tariffs on American products have decreased from 125% to 10%.

The US confirmed that its 10% universal tariff on imported goods will stay in place — for now.

According to Bonta, tariffs on more than 50 specific trading partners will increase by up to 50% and take effect on July 9, 2025.

He said tariffs are expected to reduce the labor supply by 546,000 full-time jobs nationwide.